Bottle closure



1,681,036 J. M, L. GROBY v BOTTLE CLOSURE Aug. 14, 192a Filed May 9, 1927 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN M. L. GROBY, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOTTLE CLOSURE.

Application filed May 9, 1927. Serial No. 189,859.

The invention relates to a closure for bottles. The closure is one that may form a permanent or initial closure for a bottle. It is especially designed, however, to function as a temporary closure in the sense that it is designed, especially adated'and intended to replace other types of c osure or stoppers after the bottle has once been opened, and afterward be repeatedly removed and replaced while the contents of the bottle is be ing used.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a closure possessing the following characteristics: one possessin an easy application and removal by simply snapping on and off one that requires no nicety in positioning preliminary to its application and which will be practically self-centering; one

that will make a tight joint with the open mouth of the bottle especially around the inner edge thereof, and particularly a closure that Will be made to tension hard against the open mouth of the bottle to form an airtight joint when the closure is snapped onto the bottle without the necessity of'further adjustment or tightening. To put the matter in another way, it is my special object to provide a closure that will prove effective in the hands of an inexperienced or careless user.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings in which an embodiment thereof is shown applied to a bottle, such portion of the bottle only being shown as is necessary for a proper understanding of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle and closure when in position applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the sections being taken on lines substantially at right angles to one another.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the closure, a part thereof being shown in sectional elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the closure, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the closure mainly in sectional elevation with certain operating parts shown in front elevation and is illustrative of the changed position taken by these parts in the application of the closure.

Referring to the drawings 1 representsthe top end or neck of the bottle provided with the customary bead 2 and annular groove 3 beneath the bead.

The closure forming the subject-matter of the invention, comprises a cap member 4 and a clamping member 5 which functions also as a tension member. The cap member 4 when in place fits over the end of the bottle closing its mouth. The clamping member 5 snaps onto and off the bottle for applying or removing the cap member, and when applied to the bottle functions not' only to hold the cap member in place but also to hold it under tension hard pressed against the top end of the bottle for making an airtight omt.

The cap member 4 comprises an annular disk 6 having a flange 7 downturned from its outer edge and forming with the disk a cavity within which is contained a washer 8 of soft rubber or other packing material suit-- able for making a tight joint when compressed. The fianged disk 7 with the washer insert is of a size to properly fit over or envelop the top end of the bottle. The disk 6 is provided with a raised centerpiece, 9 preferably annular in form and smaller than the mouth of the bottle. The centerpiece provides a bearing with which the clamping member 5 has working engagement for holding the cap member in place, as will later be explained. With the cap member'in place on the bottle its centerpiece 9 extends u wardly from the disk 6 at a point inwardly removed from the inner edge 10 of the bottle which frames its mouth. The disk 6 is also provided with an annular downturned bead 11 lying just outside the lower end ofthe centerpiece and when the cap member 4 is in place on the end of the bottle, lying just above the inner edge 10 ofthe bottle. The centerpiece 9 preferably .annular in form as aforesaid, is provided with a cover 12 having arim' 13 which slips down over the centerpiece until the cover draws against the top edge thereof and closes its mouth.

The clamping member 5 comprises a bent resilient wire having a circular portion 15 adapted when in place to embrace the neck of the bottle and lies within the groove 3 V beneath the bead 2. The portion 15 of the O iuen'iber is made of such size and so tensioned that its outer ends 10 will project slightly beyond the diametrical center of the neck on either side thereof and will tension against the sides of the neck when the portion 15 1s in place snapped onto the neck. I

From the ends 16 of its circular portion 15 the wire forming the member 5 is bent back upon itself to form loops or cars 17 from which extend respectively upwardprojecting arms 18. These arms are parallelly arranged. They extend upwardly from the portion 15 at substantial right angles thereto and from points lying back of the ends 16 of said portion. The arms 18 extend upwardly by the disk portion (5 of the cap member to a point about level with the top of the centerpiece 9. Thence the arms are bent at substantial right angles to extend by arm extensions 19, having slight downward inclination, over the opposite sides of the centerpiece 9 with bearing thereon and into the interior of the centerpiece, the sides of the centerpiece being provided with slots 20 adapted to receive the arms. Thus mounted the clamping member 5 will turn on the cap member 4, pivoting on its centerpiece 9.

The outer ends 21 of the arm extensions 19 lie inside the centerpiece slightly spaced from one another, and to prevent lateral displacement of these arm extensions with relation to the centerpiece, there is provided a downward-extending pintle or projection 22 from the cover 12 of the centerpiece which extends between the spaced ends of the arm extensions. Inasmuch as the arm extensions 19 engaging the centerpiece would prevent the rim of the cover 12 slipping down over the centerpiece the rim is provided with slots 23 which allow it to slip by the respective arm extensions.

Referring again to the arms 18 and their inturned arm extensions 19 which engage the centerpiece 9 of the cap member closure, it will be observed that the arrangement is such that the extensions 19 of the arms have bearing against the sides of the centerpiece some little distance removed from the points of the bends where the arm extensions 19 projectfrom the arms 18 so that when downward pull is exerted upon the arms 18 the resulting action will be to straighten the arms 18 with relation to their extensions 19, when, by reason of the tension thus induced a powerful down draft will be exerted by the arm extensions 19 upon the centerpiece and through the centerpiece onto the disk 6 and contained washer 8 interposed between the disk 6 and the top end of the bot-- tle. The action of straightening the arms 18 with relation to their arm extensions 19 for tensioning the arms is further obtained and facilitated when downward pull is exerted upon the arms by the tendency of the arms 18 to separate laterally as shown in Fig. (3. As such lateral operation of the arms 18 takes place the arm extensions 19 will tend to draw away from the centerpiece against which they have bearing and consequently the outer ends 21 of the arm extensions will have bearing against the centerpiece when the straightening and consequent tensioning of the arms takes place. The arms 18 are so proportioned as to length that such downward draft for obtaining the above-described actions will be exerted upon them when the portion 15 of the wire, upon application of the closure to the bottle, is snapped onto the neck of the bottle and is consequent upon the drawing of the portion 15 ot the wire against the bead 2 on the neck of the bottle allot which perhaps can be better understood in the light of the operation of the closure for sealing the mouth of the bottle.

The operation is as follows:

The cap member t with contained *asher S first placed over the open end. of the bottle. The clamping member 5 is then snapped on the bottle neck. As the member 5 is snapped on the outer ends 16 of the circular portion 15 oi the member, lying on opposite sides of the bottle neck, will first engage the head on the neck, while the portion 15 is in an outwardly and upwardly inclined position. is pressure is applied and the portion 15 brought down, the ends 16 thereof thus fulcruming upon the head 2 on the bottle with which they are in engagement, will convert the portion 15 of the wire into a lever which will exert a violent down draft upon the arms 18 lying back of the fulcrum points, and upon their extensions 19, thereby exerting a straightening action upon the arms 18 with relation to their extensions and which action is facilitated by the separation of the arms 18 with consequent drawing out of the arm extensions from within the centerpiece against which they have hearing so that the ends 21 of the arm extensions will bear against the centerpiece during the time of the applied draft. Such draft for straightening and. tensioning the arms 18 with relation to their extensions is continued until the portion 15 of the member 5 has been moved down into position to embrace the neck of the bottle lying within the grove 3 beneath the head 2 thereon and in which position the port on 15 is retained, until snapped oil, by the tensional bearing of its outer ends 16 against the opposite sides of the neck just beyond the center thereof as before explained.

The straightening of the arms its with relation to their extensions and consequent; tensioning of these parts causes a violent draft to be exerted upon the centerpiece and this draft is exerted through the cci'iterpicce and disk 6 to press the washer or packing loo 8 hard against the top end of the bottle making a tight joint. This action is assisted and the joint made morc secure by surrounds its mouth, this bead lying substantially directly beneath the centerpiece where it will receive the full effect of the downward draft applied to it this draft acting through the centerpiece 9 and bead 11 to indent and center the washer and press it with great violence against the inner edge 10 of the bottle.

The closure is removed simply by snapping the clamping member 5 off the end of the bottle when the cap member 4 may be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States l. A bottle closure comprising a cap member adapted to fit over the beaded top end of a bottle neck and provided with a raised centerpiece, a clamping member comprising a circular portion adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle beneath the bead thereon with ends extending beyond the center of the neck tensioned against the sides thereof, arms connecting with said circular portion of the clamping member with extension upwardly therefrom at substantial right angles thereto from points inwardly removed from the ends of said circular portion, said arms being bent and extended by arm extensions to rest and turn upon said centerpiece, said arms having such extension relatively to said cap member, and said arm extensions engaging said centerpiece at points so far removedfrom the bend in said arms that a distortive straightening effect will be imparted to said arms and extensions whereby the cap member will become tensioned against the top end of the bottle upon applying said cir-' cular portion of the clamping member to the bottle.

2. A bottle closure having a cap member adapted to fit over the beaded top end of a bottle neck, said cap member comprising an annular disk having a raised centerpiece with a flange downturned from the outer edge thereof and a packing washer located in the cavity formed by said disk and flange, a clamping member comprising a circular portion adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle beneath the bead thereon with ends extending beyond the center of the neck tensioned against the sides thereof, arms connecting with said circular portion of the clamping member with extension upwardly therefrom at substantial right angles thereto from points inwardly removed from the ends of said circular portion, said arms being bent and extended by arm extensions to rest and turn upon said centerpiece, said arms having such extension relatively to said cap member, and said arm extensions engaging said centerpiece at points so far removedfrom the bend in said arms that a distortive straightening effect will be imparted to said arms and extensions whereby the cap member will become tensioned against the top end of the bottle upon applying said circular portion of the clamping member to the bottle.

3. A bottle closure having a cap member adapted to fit over the beaded top end of a bottle neck, said cap member comprising an annular disk having a raised centerpiece and a flange downturned from the outer edge thereof with a packing washer contained within the cavity formed by said disk and flange, a clamping member comprising a circular portion adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle beneath the bead thereon with ends extending beyond the center of the neck tensioned against the sides thereof, arms connecting with said circular portion of the clamping member with extension upwardly therefrom at substational right angles thereto from points inwardly removed from the ends of said circular portion, said arms being bent and extended by arm extensions to rest and turn upon said centerpiece, said arms having such extension relatively to said cap member, and said arm extensions engaging said centerpiece at points so far removed from the bend in said arms that said arm extensions will be moved outwardly with relation to said centerpiece and a distortive straightening efiect will be imparted to said arms and extensions whereby the cap member will become tensioned against the top end of the bottle upon applying said circular portion of the clamping member ,to the bottle.

4. A bottle closure having. a cap member adapted to fit over the beaded top end of a bottle neck, said cap member comprising an annular disk having a raised centerpiece diametrically smaller than the mouth of the bottle, a downturned bead on the disk arranged outsidethe plane of the centerpiece and lying when the cap memberis in place approximately just above the inner edge of straightening effect will be imparted to said arms and extensions whereby the Cap memher will become tensioncd against the top end of the bottle upon applying said circular portion of the clamping member to the bottle.

JOHN M. L. GROBY. 

